Colombian Andes MTB Expedition
Páramos, hidden waterfalls, and 38 km of Andean wilderness per day. 7-day small-group expedition. Intermediate to advanced riders only.
Price From
$1,095 USD pp
Duration
7 Days
Daily Riding
~38 km
Altitude Range
1,400-2,800m
Fitness Rating
5 / 6
Skill Level
Intermediate
Why Ride the Colombian Andes
Terrain No Map Has Found
Colombia’s Andes hold singletracks that don’t appear on any mapping app. Remote valleys, cloud forest descents, and technical climbs through terrain that changes every 300 metres of altitude.
A Waterfall Inside a Mountain
Ventanas de Tisquizoque is the centrepiece of this expedition: a river that bursts out of a cave in the rock face and drops 300 metres. You reach it after a 50 km climb. The view from inside earns it.
Páramo Riding Above 2,800m
The páramo is Colombia’s high-altitude ecosystem: cold, windswept, biologically unique. Riding above 2,800m with views of the entire Andean ridge is the kind of moment that reorders your sense of scale.
This Expedition Is For You If…
This Ride Is For You
- ✔ You’ve done multi-day rides and want something harder
- ✔ You’re comfortable on technical descents and sustained climbs
- ✔ You want wilderness, not resorts
- ✔ You can handle 6-8 hours in the saddle on rough terrain
- ✔ You can climb to 2,800m two days in a row
- ✔ You want a small group (max 6 riders)
- ✔ You care where your money goes after you leave
Not the Right Fit
- ✘ First-time or casual riders
- ✘ Anyone without sustained climb experience
- ✘ Riders expecting comfort hotels and resort logistics
- ✘ Groups larger than 6
- ✘ Anyone with unmanaged heart conditions or altitude sensitivity
What You’ll Experience
Seven days. One range. A handful of moments you’ll spend years trying to describe.
The Ventanas de Tisquizoque Cave
Ride 50 km uphill to reach it. Stand inside the cave mouth as a river drops 300 metres past you. Worth every kilometre.
Páramo Wilderness Above 2,800m
Colombia’s high-altitude moorland: cold mornings, panoramic Andean views, and technical climbs most riders never attempt.
Cloud Forest Singletracks
Descents through dense cloud forest where the trail disappears 10 metres ahead. Fast, technical, and completely off-grid.
The 60-Foot Rock Ledge
At the páramo summit, a narrow rock ledge juts 60 feet over the edge. The view from the top is the Andes at scale.
Small Group, Expert Local Guides
Max 6 riders. Guides who’ve ridden these routes hundreds of times. No crowds. No compromises on pace.
Colombia's Jurassic Geology
This region of the Andes is one of the oldest exposed geological formations in South America. The terrain looks prehistoric because it is.
Terrain and Riding Style
This is not a rail trail. The Andes MTB Expedition covers:
- Sustained climbs of 40-50 km with 1,000m+ elevation gain per day
- Technical descents on loose rock, rooted singletracks, and compressed earth
- River crossings and unpaved farm roads at altitude
- High-altitude páramo crossings above 2,800m where temperature drops fast
- Cloud forest trails with tight switchbacks and limited visibility
Average daily distance: ~38 km
Average elevation gain: 800-1,200m per day
Altitude range: 1,400m to 2,800m
Surface types: Singletrack (60%), gravel/dirt road (30%), paved (10%)
Your guide paces the group for the slowest rider. Stronger riders get options for additional climbs or extensions on key days.
7-Day Itinerary Snapshot
Days can shift based on weather and group pace. This is the core arc of the expedition.
Day 1 - Arrival and Orientation
Arrive at your departure town. Meet your guide and group. Gear check, route briefing, and an easy warm-up ride to calibrate pace and equipment. Overnight at base.
Day 2 - Into the Jurassic Corridor
First full riding day. The ascent begins. Cloud forest trails, river crossings, and your first encounter with the Andean wilderness. Approximately 38 km and 900m of gain.
Day 3 - The Long Climb
The route pushes deeper into the range. Sustained uphill sections with altitude increasing each hour. Views open as the cloud forest gives way to open Andean ridge. Approximately 40 km and 1,100m of gain.
Day 4 - Ventanas de Tisquizoque
The centrepiece day. A 50 km climb brings you to the hidden waterfall: a river exiting a cave in the rock face and dropping 300 metres into the valley below. You stand inside the cave mouth. Nothing else like it in Colombia.
Day 5 - Páramo Ascent
Crossing into the páramo. Cold, remote, and technically demanding. The rock ledge above 2,800m offers the widest Andean panorama of the expedition. Approximately 35 km and 1,200m of gain.
Day 6 - The Descent
What goes up must come down. Long technical descents through cloud forest, loose rock, and singletrack. The fun reward after four days of climbing. Approximately 42 km.
Day 7 - Return and Wrap
Final riding day or transfer, depending on route variation selected. Group debrief, photos, and arrangements for onward travel. Transfers back to Medellín or Bogotá can be arranged.
Exact routes, overnight locations, and stage distances are confirmed in your pre-expedition briefing. All itineraries are weather-adaptive.
What’s Included
What’s Included
- ✔ Professional local mountain bike guide (English/Spanish)
- ✔ All trail logistics and route planning
- ✔ Support vehicle on all riding days
- ✔ Accommodation throughout (private or twin rooms)
- ✔ Meals: breakfast and dinner daily
- ✔ Emergency first aid kit on trail
- ✔ Pre-expedition briefing and gear checklist
- ✔ Post-expedition transfer back to departure point
What’s Not Included
- ✘ International flights
- ✘ Travel insurance (required – see note below)
- ✘ Your own mountain bike (rental available on request)
- ✘ Lunches and personal drinks on trail
- ✘ Bike servicing during the expedition
- ✘ Tips for guides and support crew
Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is required for this expedition. We can recommend providers on your discovery call.
Skill and Fitness Requirements
Fitness: 5 out of 6
You should be able to ride 6-8 hours per day on varied terrain. You don’t need to be a racer, but you need sustained ride experience. Riders who are unsure should do 3-4 weeks of hill training before departure.
Skill: Intermediate to Advanced
Comfortable with technical descents, loose surfaces, and narrow trails. You don’t need to be a downhill specialist, but you need to handle unexpected terrain without stopping.
What “Intermediate” means here:
- You’ve done multi-day rides before
- You can descend on loose gravel without panic braking
- You know how to pace yourself on extended climbs
- You’ve ridden in weather before: rain, mud, cold
If you’re on the borderline, say so on your discovery call. We’ll give you an honest assessment.
More detail on fitness and skill levels:
Safety and Support
Support Vehicle on Every Ride
A support 4×4 follows all riding stages. Carries gear, first aid, water, and an emergency extraction plan. Not behind you – ahead of you on the route.
Certified First Aid on Trail
All guides carry wilderness first aid certification and a full trauma kit. Emergency protocols are briefed before departure on Day 1.
Weather-Adaptive Routing
Colombian weather moves fast. Routes are adjusted in real-time. No one rides into a storm to stay on schedule.
Travel Insurance Required
We require all riders to carry travel insurance with medical evacuation cover. The Colombian Andes are remote. We plan for the worst so you don’t have to.
How Your Ride Funds the Mission
All proceeds we earn from our cycling adventures are reinvested into Dulce Amazónica, the Amazon cultural embassy we co-founded with Casa de Ciclistas, and into the operations, logistics, and community systems that make this work possible.
When you ride the Andes, you’re also helping us keep the Amazon work alive.
From the Andes
Questions About the Andes Expedition
What fitness level do I need?
Fitness 5 out of 6. You should be able to ride 6-8 hours per day on technical terrain. If you’ve done multi-day rides and handle sustained climbs, you’re in the right range. Borderline cases: book a call and we’ll give you an honest read.
Do I need my own bike?
You can bring your own or rent through us. If renting, specify your height and riding style when you book your discovery call. All bikes are serviced before the expedition.
What is the maximum group size?
Maximum 6 riders. This keeps the guide-to-rider ratio manageable on technical terrain and keeps trail impact low.
What is the elevation range?
1,400m to 2,800m. You’ll feel the altitude on the páramo days. If you’ve never ridden above 2,000m before, mention it on your call – we’ll prepare you.
Is this safe for a solo traveller?
Most riders join as solo travellers and are grouped with others of similar ability. You’ll receive rider profiles before departure so you know who you’re riding with.
What does the price include?
Guide, support vehicle, accommodation, and breakfast and dinner daily. International flights, travel insurance, and lunches are not included. Full breakdown is in the included section above.
What time of year is best for this expedition?
Year-round, with best conditions December-March and June-August (Colombia’s dry seasons). We monitor weather windows and adjust routing when needed.
What is Ventanas de Tisquizoque?
A geological formation deep in the Colombian Andes where a river exits through a cave in the rock face and drops 300 metres. It’s the signature landmark of this expedition and one of the most remote natural sites in Colombia. Most people have never heard of it. That’s the point.
How do I book?
Start with a discovery call. It’s 20 minutes to confirm the right fit, answer your questions, and work through logistics. Use the button below to pick a time that works for you.
Ready to Ride the Andes?
This expedition takes 7 days of real commitment, serious terrain, and preparation.
A discovery call is 20 minutes to confirm this is the right ride for you, answer your questions, and work through logistics. No pressure. If it’s not the right fit, we’ll tell you.